Hoge Bongerd has been designated as a new residential neighbourhood along the Lent dike zone, at the transition between the urban Warande and the village of Lent. Studio D was commissioned to develop a visual quality plan that not only safeguards architectural and landscape coherence, but also provides clear direction for the area’s identity.
The visual quality plan allows for a range of architectural solutions, from buildings with a horizontal articulation to volumes that express the change in scale towards the village.
The visual quality plan is structured around three interconnected sub-areas: the Warande, the Green Courtyards and the Gardens, each with its own atmosphere and architectural character.
The spatial principles respond to the site’s unique position between the Lent Warande and the village of Lent, with sightlines towards the Spiegelwaal and connections to the dike landscape. The ambition is to enable a design that supports a gradual transition from urban to rural, where architecture and landscape reinforce one another.
Strong emphasis was placed on car-light, permeable public spaces, giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists. Climate-adaptive measures, nature-inclusive design and social interaction form the core values of the plan.
Within the project area, several integrated design challenges were identified. For these special locations, additional design requirements apply alongside the general guidelines. This approach safeguards a high level of visual quality and ensures that each special area makes a strong, coherent and recognisable contribution to the overall design.
The Green Courtyards facilitate the transition to a more village-like character, with intimate inner courtyards, green streets and shared meeting places. Along the edges of the area lie the Gardens, where clusters of detached homes are set within an open, lush green landscape, intersected by a watercourse that brings ecology and recreation together.
Architectural coherence is achieved through a restrained yet rich palette of materials, such as timber and light-toned brick, combined with carefully considered detailing.
